The Most Bizarre Styling Tricks to Fake Perfect Food

Before you think about taking a bite of that perfect stack of pancakes dripping with syrup you might see in an advertisement or a cookbook, you may be surprised to learn that Scotchgard and motor oil are the secret ingredients to make it look appetizing.

These household items are just a few tools that food stylists rely on to make food look good to eat. While food photography today is trending toward a more natural appearance with an emphasis on real foods, there are still some old-school tricks up stylists' sleeves to fake a perfect scoop, sear or pour.

Check out the slideshow above to discover strange food styling tricks to make food look tasty.